A year on from the Birmingham riots, Crime Correspondent Nick McCarthy looks at steps being taken to ensure there’s no repeat of the terrible scenes that blighted our city.

A year on from the Birmingham riots, Crime Correspondent NICK McCARTHY looks at steps being taken to ensure there’s no repeat of the terrible scenes that blighted our city.

BIRMINGHAM needs to tackle its ‘‘deep rooted inequalities’’ to ensure there is no repeat of last summer’s riots.

The message has been sent out by the man in charge of a newly-created Birmingham City Council post that focuses on community relations.

John Cotton, cabinet member for Social Cohesion and Equalities, said a huge discrepancy in life chances is holding the city back.

The Labour councillor for Shard End, said: “This isn’t about finding an excuse for what happened.

“Violence and criminality is never acceptable and those who break the law must pay the price in full. But I think we have to match our robust response to those who break the law with an equal determination to tackle some of the root causes.

“That means asking ourselves some tough questions about the society we live in and how it needs to change.”

Coun Cotton said the city needs to face up to some of its big problem around deprivation. He added: “There are still too many of our fellow citizens without work or even the hope of a job.

“Too many of our kids are leaving school without the skills and qualifications they need to get a chance of a decent career.

“Our life chances and, in some cases, our life expectancy, is often determined by the neighbourhood we live in.

“This isn’t just unfair, it is actively holding our city back. If we continue to tolerate this situation, we are sabotaging Birmingham’s future prospects.

“Tackling the deep-rooted inequalities that scar parts of our city is one of the council’s key priorities.”

A councillor who was out on the streets to help quell tensions during the riots has warned police need to continue investing in neighbourhood officers.

Councillor Waseem Zaffar was awarded an MBE for services to the community earlier this year. The East Handsworth and Lozells Labour councillor helped ease tensions in his ward by bringing local community leaders together during the trouble.

Coun Zaffar said: “The real success comes when we have police officers on the ground at grass roots level engaging with local communities.

“In my ward we have seen how well this has worked after the 2005 riots.

“The police were fantastic in building up community relations and that relationship helped last year.

“The problem we have now is that we have lost half of the neighbourhood officers in my ward. I understand the force has to implement Government cuts, but I am concerned about the impact that will have on the community in the future.

"The disorder itself was quite unique and had far more to do with what happened in London.

“What those people did was totally inexcusable, but they represented a small minority. There was huge defiance from the majority of people who said they were not going to allow this to happen.

“They were the same people who came out in the days after the disturbances with their own brooms to clean up.

“Our city has one of the youngest populations in Europe and it’s very important to remember that many of our young people had nothing to do with the disorder.

“Many of them are working with the Birmingham Leadership Foundation, and the UpRising Foundation are doing some very impressive things. The only positive thing that came out of the riots was the reaction from many of the young people who wanted no part in it.”

?Next page: Man who stole soft drinks during looting is spared jail

A LABOURER who stole soft drinks from a shop looted during the riots in Birmingham has escaped a jail sentence.

Scott Dickinson, 25, was part of a mob who poured in to a newsagent’s during the height of the troubles last summer.

In sentencing him to a six-month community order, Judge Elizabeth Fisher said: “It’s quite clear you were not the only one to go into the premises. You took advantage of the opportunity that arose.”

Dickinson, of Lodge Road, Hockley, had previously admitted burglary.

Alka Brigue, prosecuting at Birmingham Crown Court, said the looting on August 9 last year was captured on CCTV.

She said a number of people went down Corporation Street before attacking Court News.

Tobacco and cigarettes worth £3,500 were taken by the mob, along with cash.

Dickinson was interviewed by police on March 6 and initially denied entering the shop but eventually accepted he had gone in, climbing through the front window.

He admitted stealing cans of Lucozade and Fanta “because he was thirsty”.

The court heard Dickinson had previous convictions, including one for burglary.

David Munro, defending, said his client had suffered a brain injury in a road traffic accident seven years ago and was someone who was easily led.

“Others wore masks and had hoods but he made no attempt to disguise himself at all,” he said.

Mr Munro said Dickinson, who worked as a building labourer, got “caught up in events”.

Next page: Family prepares to mark anniversary of riot deaths

THE father of a man killed in the Birmingham riots 12 months ago today revealed how his family planned to mark the tragic anniversary with a private gathering at home.

Haroon Jahan, 20, and brothers Shazad Ali, 30, and Abdul Musavir, 31, died after they were hit by a car in Dudley Road, Winson Green, at the height of the violence.

Tariq Jahan was among the first on the scene and attempted to revive his youngest son Haroon and the brothers as they lay unconscious in the street.

Sadly, there was nothing he could do and they were pronounced dead at City Hospital a short while later.

“We want to have a private function at home to remember the boys by,” Mr Jahan said.

“I’ve been told the other family (of the brothers killed) would like a community get together and some prayers at a local mosque.

“I know there are trees being planted and benches being put up in memory of the boys.

‘‘I really appreciate it and wish I could be there for them all, but unfortunately I can’t. For me, it’s a time to reflect with my family.”

Mr Jahan, 46, who has still not been able to return to his job as a courier, said the family were still coming to terms with the tragedy but that Sophia’s wedding this year was particularly hard without Haroon.